It’s a Classic Letdown

Those who thought the day after the Pacific Classic would be anticlimactic turned out to be correct.

For most of the day Sunday, thanks to a rash of upsets, it appeared there was going to be a massive pick-six carryover because of the $1-million pool that was guaranteed on Del Mar’s biggest day.

Instead, there was one perfect ticket that managed to isolate Classic upsetter Came Home and five other non-favorites, and it was worth $709,396.

So, there isn’t much to get excited about on the final day of Del Mar’s fifth week. The average field size is less than eight, and there isn’t a whole lot in terms of quality.

A victory by European import Atarama in the seventh, a $60,000 allowance at one mile on the turf, would be noteworthy for her trainer, Kristin Mulhall.

The daughter of Richard Mulhall, a former trainer and current racing manager for the Thoroughbred Corporation, Kristin is seeking the first victory of her career. A 3-year-old Sadler’s Wells filly owned by, not surprisingly, the Thoroughbred Corporation, Atarama is the 5-2 second choice on Jeff Tufts’ morning line in the field of six.

Bred in Ireland and trained in Europe by John Dunlop, Atarama, who raced primarily in England before making one appearance in Germany, picked up her lone win in seven starts going seven furlongs at Redcar last Oct. 6. She will be ridden by Victor Espinoza. who had a pair of turf victories Sunday, and will race on Lasix for the first time.

The filly to beat is 2-1 favorite Nicole’s Pursuit, who has made the board in all four of her turf starts, winning once.

Race of the day: Del Mar’s leading trainer Bob Baffert will send out a pair of rookies--Gone Ballistic and Oopstheregoes--in the fourth, a maiden event for 2-year-olds at one mile on the turf.

Who’s hot: William White. The trainer is the runaway leader at Calder, winning with about 26% of his starters.

Who’s not: Gary Rogers. Another trainer based at Calder, he has won with only three of 77 starters this year.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Bartending Mike and Johnny Ola in the fifth, Brief Message, McAdam and High Noon Meeting in the sixth, singling Nicole’s Pursuit in the seventh and Beauty Contest, Lil Bit Devlish and Roberta’s Mango in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/61. Money: Previous day/meet total: $6.80/$368. Total money bet: $496.